while trying to bring up an archived memory from high school science class. "Io and Callisto?"
"I would have also accepted Europa and Ganymede. Third question: Name the planet named for the Greek god of war."
"Well that's a trick question. The Greek god of war is Ares, but its Roman counterpart is Mars, which the fourth planet from the sun happens to be named after."
"Well done." The girl pushed the too-large-for-her-face glasses up the bridge of her nose. "Final question: Star Trek or Star Wars ?"
Natalie smiled and answered, "Star Wars ."
"Okay you can come in!" the girl beamed as she opened the door wider. "I'm Frankie, by the way."
"It's very nice to meet you, Frankie. You can call me Natalie if you like."
"Okay Natalie. Dad! Your friend answered every question right!"
Natalie hadn't even noticed that James was standing a few feet behind Frankie. She closed the door behind her and smiled as she watched the two together.
"I really thought you were going to stump her with that trick question, buddy."
"Nah. She's pretty smart. Can we show her the planetarium we made?" She scrunched as James slid the glasses up the bridge of her nose once again.
"Sure we can. Why don't you set up a place for Natalie to sit on the floor? She can sit next to me." When Frankie ran off in the direction of the bedroom James leaned in and kissed Natalie sweetly. "Glad you could make it."
"I can never turn down ice cream. Though I must admit I'm surprised the offer came from Frankie. I didn't realize she even knew about me."
"She did a little. She was playing with my phone and saw that picture of you I took this morning. She asked me who the pretty lady was and after I explained she insisted on inviting you over." He leaned in and kissed her again, lingering just a moment longer than he did the first time. "I'm glad you'll finally get to meet her."
"Well it was fortunate I passed the test," she said sincerely. "So, planetarium?"
"Right! So-" he put an arm around her waist and guided her into the living room. "Turn the lights off and the projector puts stars on the ceiling and walls. Then we use an app on the iPad that displays constellations in the sky based on GPS."
Frankie returned, her arms filled with extra blankets and pillows. "When you move the iPad the sky moves with you! We can even point it down to see what the sky looks like on the other side of Earth!"
"It even plays music," James added with a smile.
Natalie marveled at how utterly relaxed James seemed. His eyes were alive with light and warmth as he watched the six year old strategically place the pillows and blankets into a makeshift seat next to the ones she and James had already been occupying. Natalie set her purse down on the dining table and slipped her shoes off before taking a seat next to James, who was himself dressed down in a white tee shirt and cotton pajama pants.
"Everybody ready for the lights to go out?"
"Yes!" Frankie called out from her position in front of them.
"Alright, let's bring out the stars." He held up a remote to dim the room's lighting to near blackness. The projection device came to life, peppering the darkened walls and ceiling with pinholes of light like diamonds on the sky. Frankie held the iPad up high enough for Natalie to see and the Milky Way galaxy came to life. Every time Frankie tapped on a favorite star or constellation, atmospheric music played through the small speaker. She chatted excitedly about distant planets and galaxies, spouted trivial facts she'd learned in school and in independent study. She was remarkably intelligent for such a young person, and Natalie found herself in awe of her.
When James excused himself to answer a phone call Frankie took the opportunity to scoot into his seat. She put the tablet down in her lap and looked up expectantly at Natalie.
"Do you believe in aliens?" she asked, her brown eyes so large and endearing, like an animated character.
"Hmm," Natalie considered. "Do I think there are
"I would have also accepted Europa and Ganymede. Third question: Name the planet named for the Greek god of war."
"Well that's a trick question. The Greek god of war is Ares, but its Roman counterpart is Mars, which the fourth planet from the sun happens to be named after."
"Well done." The girl pushed the too-large-for-her-face glasses up the bridge of her nose. "Final question: Star Trek or Star Wars ?"
Natalie smiled and answered, "Star Wars ."
"Okay you can come in!" the girl beamed as she opened the door wider. "I'm Frankie, by the way."
"It's very nice to meet you, Frankie. You can call me Natalie if you like."
"Okay Natalie. Dad! Your friend answered every question right!"
Natalie hadn't even noticed that James was standing a few feet behind Frankie. She closed the door behind her and smiled as she watched the two together.
"I really thought you were going to stump her with that trick question, buddy."
"Nah. She's pretty smart. Can we show her the planetarium we made?" She scrunched as James slid the glasses up the bridge of her nose once again.
"Sure we can. Why don't you set up a place for Natalie to sit on the floor? She can sit next to me." When Frankie ran off in the direction of the bedroom James leaned in and kissed Natalie sweetly. "Glad you could make it."
"I can never turn down ice cream. Though I must admit I'm surprised the offer came from Frankie. I didn't realize she even knew about me."
"She did a little. She was playing with my phone and saw that picture of you I took this morning. She asked me who the pretty lady was and after I explained she insisted on inviting you over." He leaned in and kissed her again, lingering just a moment longer than he did the first time. "I'm glad you'll finally get to meet her."
"Well it was fortunate I passed the test," she said sincerely. "So, planetarium?"
"Right! So-" he put an arm around her waist and guided her into the living room. "Turn the lights off and the projector puts stars on the ceiling and walls. Then we use an app on the iPad that displays constellations in the sky based on GPS."
Frankie returned, her arms filled with extra blankets and pillows. "When you move the iPad the sky moves with you! We can even point it down to see what the sky looks like on the other side of Earth!"
"It even plays music," James added with a smile.
Natalie marveled at how utterly relaxed James seemed. His eyes were alive with light and warmth as he watched the six year old strategically place the pillows and blankets into a makeshift seat next to the ones she and James had already been occupying. Natalie set her purse down on the dining table and slipped her shoes off before taking a seat next to James, who was himself dressed down in a white tee shirt and cotton pajama pants.
"Everybody ready for the lights to go out?"
"Yes!" Frankie called out from her position in front of them.
"Alright, let's bring out the stars." He held up a remote to dim the room's lighting to near blackness. The projection device came to life, peppering the darkened walls and ceiling with pinholes of light like diamonds on the sky. Frankie held the iPad up high enough for Natalie to see and the Milky Way galaxy came to life. Every time Frankie tapped on a favorite star or constellation, atmospheric music played through the small speaker. She chatted excitedly about distant planets and galaxies, spouted trivial facts she'd learned in school and in independent study. She was remarkably intelligent for such a young person, and Natalie found herself in awe of her.
When James excused himself to answer a phone call Frankie took the opportunity to scoot into his seat. She put the tablet down in her lap and looked up expectantly at Natalie.
"Do you believe in aliens?" she asked, her brown eyes so large and endearing, like an animated character.
"Hmm," Natalie considered. "Do I think there are
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